Biographic Information: English, Female, 21 yrs (5)
Themes: Biographical information (age, where participant is from, where participant has lived and lives currently), Participant’s life (living away from home, memories, traveling, etc.), Participant’s likes and interests (pottery, baking, pets, etc.), Participant’s occupation, Participant’s future motivations and aspirations, Life in the border region of the Southwest, Participant’s family (traditions old and new), Spanish (speaking and learning)
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Transcript:
[00:00]
Interviewer: Okay. Hi.
Participant: Hi.
I: (laughs) Uh, thank you for letting me interview you.
P: Uh huh.
I: For my study umm, so I already mentioned it’s going to be about like seventeen, fifteen, seventeen questions. Um, it, I would like for you to answer them with as much detail as possible. The questions, the questions themselves are not really important. I just want for you to talk. So it’s okay if you ramble.
P: Okay.
I: My first question for you is. How old are you?
P: I’m twenty-one.
I: Twenty-one. And where are you from?
P: Las Cruces.
I: Have you lived your whole life?
P: Mhm.
I: What’s your favorite part about Las Cruces?
P: Ooo.
I: It can be more than one thing.
P: I don’t know. Well, I guess the community, the community is pretty cool. And just that most of my family’s here. Probably.
I: Okay. [So.] All right. The next question is where do you live now? Oh, you live in the same place. Uh. (4.0) I guess tell me about if you’ve ever moved while living in Las Cruces.
P: Okay, well I moved out for the first time when I was eighteen. And I think it was 2021? Yeah. And then I lived in an apartment with two people and it was funsies. I was there for a year, I think. I think it was a whole year and then after that I decided to move in with my boyfriend and now we live together. And so that was the second time that I moved.
I: OK, so what’s your fa- what has been your favorite part about living away from home?
P: Probably like my independence and that I get to do what I want. Because I didn’t get to do that as much growing up. Other than that, it’s all right. (laughs)
I: What what’s been your least favorite part?
P: Probably just the responsibility. And having to work. Mmm, yeah. I guess just the responsibilities.
I: Okay.
P: Um, and the next question is what is your favorite family tradition and why? And it can be more than one. And it doesn’t have to be centered around the holidays, usually people associate that with the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be.
I: Mhm. Um, (14.0)
P: I can’t like off the top of my head think of a family tradition.
I: Uh, we can move on.
P: Oh!
I: Oh go ahead.
P: Yeah, I don’t really have- there’s not a lot of family traditions that I have.
I: Okay. Well, what about since living with your boyfriend, I mean you haven’t been living together for that long to be able to like, create I guess really make it a foundation for traditions but is there anything you guys do like daily or weekly, that is new that you enjoy?
P: Yeah. We go like, almost every Sunday, we go to eat breakfast.
I: Together and then we just like, spend that day together because that’s the day that we both have off. P: Um, a, we’re, like, slowly starting to make, like, holiday traditions because we’ve been living together for a year and a, a little over a year now so.
I: Yeah. What other traditions do you have?
P: Because I feel like we do have traditions. Um, well, we really like to go to car shows together, so I feel like that’s a tradition that we kind of do just whenever like we, just whenever there’s one in town and then it’s probably going to be something that like we like when we have a family that’s probably what we’re going to do like take our kids to and stuff.
I: Okay. The next question is what is the positive
P: Memory from your childhood?
I: Oh, probably cause my dad. He’s like outdoorsy. You know, he’s been like, you know, he’s a hunter guide.
I: Ouch and we would always go camping and go to cabins when
P: I was little like when my, probably when all my siblings like were in high school or college. ‘Cause they’re, you know, they’re all significantly older than me. But we would all go camping and like we’d probably do that once a year. And then when I was little, we would go- we’d always cut down like a fresh tree for Christmas. I guess that’s, that’s a family tradition [5:00] (laughs) that I had, but we don’t have that anymore. Yeah, probably going camping.
I: Mmm. Would you mind talking like a little bit more about your camping trips? Like if you have a specific one.
P: Yeah, I don’t think it was a camping trip. I think it was just like a picnic, but it was for my mom’s birthday, and it was at a campground in Cloudcroft. And we went and it started to rain and (audio inaudible). We started playing. I think it was badminton. We like to set up a Badminton thing and my whole family was there. Well like my immediate family. And we were playing Badminton and it was starting to rain, and I think we also played soft- softball. We played that in the rain too, and it was just fun because we were all we pretty much all left that trip hurt because we were running in the mud and like I think I like pulled my hamstring and like many people fell. t was fun and we just like ate there and we have like a family picture of that day, which is really nice. The only person that wasn’t there was my oldest sister, Jackie, ‘cause she doesn’t live in the state. But at that time, the majority of my siblings lived here, so.
I: And how many siblings do you have?
P: I have six. So I’m the youngest. I have uh, four sisters and two brothers.
I: What’s what’s it like being the youngest out of [I could] seven?
P: It’s nice. It has like- it’s like a double-edged sword because- it’s nice because I’m probably the most spoiled (laughs) because I’m the youngest and like I can see, see the difference in how like my parents treating me and them not in a bad way, but just because like they had already been parents for years already, so like. And not to toot my own horn, but I probably was the most well behaved, so they trusted me a lot more and then the other coin to that- wait, what was I saying?
I: You said it was a double-edged sword?
P: Yeah, but I don’t know why he said that. What was the question? What it’s like to be the youngest?
I: Uh huh.
P: Mm. I don’t remember why I said that (laughs).
I: So ju- it’s all positive.
P: No there’s (laughs) no, but I don’t remember where I was- what I was gonna say. (3.0) Mm give me a minute. (laughs) What?
I: Do you have a, a sibling that you’re most close with?
P: Yeah, probably, Simon. He’s the one that’s like closest in age to me. Everybody’s significantly older. That’s a scary thought is that they’re all older than me. So, like, be alone at some point. I don’t (laughs), you know, oh that’s scary because we went to I went to a wedding recently and um Mark, Mark’s grandmother. I think she’s the youngest in her family and there was like. The wedding was on her side of the family and they had like a little area to like remember all the people that couldn’t be there with them that day and it was like all of her siblings. Yeah. So that was like, that’s sad to think about, because that’s probably going to be me eventually. So that’s, I guess the other side that wasn’t the original thought that I was going with, but eh, that’s another downside to being the youngest, I guess.
I: Um, the next question is what are you passionate about?
P: Mmm (14.0) p- probably like pottery. Because I’ve only been doing it for maybe like eight or nine months, but it’s really, it’s really calming and so I take a class and. I’ve been taking that for about eight or nine months and every time like new people come in to take the class. I’m like, how do you?
I just wonder how they don’t like instantly fall in love with it, ‘cause some people don’t come back ‘cause it’s just not their cup of tea, but I feel like that’s how I know I’m pretty passionate about it, because almost instantly like I enjoyed it and I knew that I was gonna do it probably for forever because just love it, but probably that, and there’s just a lot of things to learn. It’s like a lifelong learning process. You’re never going to know everything about pottery, there’s always different techniques and it just takes time to get really good at it, like it’s not instant gratification. [10:00] So, that’s nice and. I don’t know. It’s really calming too so.
I: And then what got you into wanting to try pottery?
P: I just remember watching videos like specifically in 2020, like when TikTok was at its prime that I used to watch this girl. I think her name was like Kelsey- I don’t remember her last name, but she makes pottery and she taught herself like she documented her journey of teaching herself how to do pottery because everything was shut down. She couldn’t go anywhere to do it, and now she like, she sells her pottery for like hundreds of dollars. It’s really beautiful. And then I just always she’s probably the- I guess an influencer that, like inspired me to try it. And then I just for a long time I wasn’t able to just because I didn’t have the funds. Um, nd then eventually I did and instantly, enjoyed it.
I: Mmm. Okay, this next question um, y- try to answer it as best you can. It’s just that tell me about what it has been like for you growing up um and we’re living here in this specific region of the United States like the Southwest. Specifically ‘cause we’re close to the border.
P: Mhm. Um. (6.0) I don’t. I don’t know. Um, I guess just normal because, well, like my family’s Hispanic and I mean the majority of people here are Hispanic or like Latino or Latina. So it’s just like, it’s pretty normal. It’s not really a thing that I think I don’t really think of the fact that we’re close to the border. So, but I think that has a big influence on the culture like. I think that’s probably why I enjoy the community that we’re in so much because of the culture that we have and it’s. It makes you feel at home.
But as- I’ve also, like, always felt out of place because my family- they’re Hispanic, but they’re really whitewashed so like, we don’t really have traditions like other Hispanic families or like we, don’t do that, so. I’ve always felt out of place in that way and my, my parents never taught us Spanish because they’re in a older generation, so they would get in trouble for speaking Spanish at school and so they just.
Never their grandparents or their parents would teach them Spanish, but they were only al- ever allowed to speak at home. So they just never really taught us Spanish. That I feel like that’s why they never taught a Spanish and it’s so, yeah, I’ve felt at a place in that way. But like at home at the same time. So it’s, it’s interesting. It’s like a interesting dynamic I guess.
I: Mhm. Okay the next question we kind of already touched on. Um, it’s as an adult what new traditions, if any, have you made? and you kind of already talked about that. When you said about the car shows [Mhm.] and um your brunch, Sunday brunch, [Mhm.] but if there’s anything else like, is there anything you do by- well, you also mentioned pottery, but is there anything you do I guess, for yourself?
P: For myself. Mmm, (6.0) well, I guess I, I read a lot. That’s something that I do for myself, just like I’ve always read since I was little. Just ‘cause it’s like a nice little, I guess escape because you’re- all of your focus is on one thing. I think that’s also why I like pottery, ‘cause it makes your mind focus on one thing and you don’t have to think about anything else. Um, (2.0) we’re getting, (2.0) mm (2.0) oh, I, I guess baking. I like to bake. But I like that’s kind of weird ‘cause I like to do it, but I also like to give it to people, so I kind of do it for both me and other people. So like- I just like the (2.0) I guess it’s like gratifying when somebody likes the what you made so. Um, but I like to spend time c- uh, baking because. That’s another thing you can’t really think about anything else when you’re doing it, because you have to focus. Um, so yeah.
I: Um, the next one is what do you do for a living?
P: Currently, I am a receptionist. That’s not [15:00] what I want to do for my life but it pays the bills.
I: What do you want to do for your life? What’s your goal, I guess?
P: Um, well, I see myself- I’m I am a business owner. I own a business. A small business and eventually hopefully own (5.0) ho- hopefully at least two businesses. I want to own two businesses and (5.0) I mean, my goal is to make enough money in those businesses to not have to work. That it works for me.Um, I’m not really a worker. Just kidding. (laughs)
I: Tell us about- well, tell us about your business.
P: Um.
I: What’s it called? What do you- what is it?
P: Laughs. It’s called Viola’s. I named it after my mom. And my and I guess myself because that’s my middle name as well. Um, it’s an online boutique where I sell um clothes and my pottery. I started it in August of this year, but when I dropped out of college, maybe like a year or two ago, I don’t know how long it’s been now, but um that was the whole goal, was to start a business. I just never really had the courage to do it. I didn’t really know where to start. But yeah, uh so about three months ago I started my business and it’s going pretty well. It’s a slow, it’s a slow process. It’s not instant gratification, which is kind of that’s kind of hard to come to terms with because you’re working so hard. So, you want a lot of people to (laughs) buy what you’re putting out, but you have to make a name for yourself first. But, Um, but yeah, that’s my business. It’s an online boutique. Hopefully I’ll be, in the future, I’ll have a store.
I: Okay, and then so that- what about you mentioned the second business
P: Mhm.
I: in the future. What is that going to consist of?
P: I don’t know. Um.
I: I don’t know, maybe like, have like a pottery studio where I offer like maybe classes. That would be cool, I don’t know if I would want to teach the classes but just have a space where other people can enjoy ha- doing pottery because it’s really hard to find. (3.0) It’s hard to get a space on your own where you can do it because it, it’s, it’s kind of an expensive hobby, like the, the materials are kind of expensive, so if like I had like a studio where I could offer like affordable classes that would include like the materials like the one I take now that would be really cool.
I: Mmm. Would you mind describing the process of making like a pot or something? Pot or- what’s, what’s your favorite thing to make right now?
P: Um, right now I make a lot of bowls. That was like the first thing that I really started to form because pottery- it takes a while for you to start making things. Well, it depends on the person, because a lot of people like, they’ll come in and right off the bat like some people just have the natural talent of making pottery and like right off the bat they are like throwing a nice bowl and I’m like a little jealous, but (laughs) um it yeah, right now I’m making a bowl. I remember when I first took my very first class. There’s a girl that she still takes a class with me. She was like, it took me about three sessions or like, so one session is seven weeks, so about three sessions of pottery to feel like I could actually make something um, so it’s a it’s a long process of learning, but that’s my favorite thing to make right now is bowls. I think I want to learn how to make mugs next so yeah.
I: What and then what’s the process for making a bowl?
P: So (clears throat) you throw a cylinder, so it’s pretty much just like, you know, a cup, a cylinder. Throw a cylinder, and then you can either use your hands to open it up, or you can use it’s the tool is called a rib. It’s kind of like a half crescent, like a crescent moon shape, maybe a half-moon shape is a better description but um so you use the rib to pull up the walls and angle them. The walls of the clay and then um you can either- you can make it as wide or as I guess narrow as you want and it’s as big as you want, depending on the clay that you use um and then yeah, you just you pull up the walls at an angle with the rib and you have to make sure that you keep the the rim of the bowl really a lot thick at the beginning because it thins out a lot once you start to pull the walls and you start to angle them. and then after that you wire it off. You like have a wire and you slide it in [20:00] between the, the bowl and the bat. It’s called a bat. It’s just a flat plate that spins on the wheel. And you pull it and then I like to let it set there for a while because it’s really fragile. It’s a lot more fragile than any other state ‘cause it’s really wet. Um, so I let it- after I wire, wired it off, I let it sit on the bat for a little bit so that it can harden just a little bit. So that once I take it off, it doesn’t- it’s not so malleable like it doesn’t fall apart in my hands. And then it has to dry. Um, it dries for about a week and it depends on the climate of the- it depends on the time of year. So like in the winter it takes a little slower to dry and then after that um or in the summer it doesn’t. It has, it has to get to a stage called leather hard and then after that you trim it and you just turn the bottom of the of the pots that you make, or the bowls you’re not really supposed to trim the top, but um you trim it and then that’s when it gets fired for the first time. It’s called a bisque fire, so it gets fired in the kiln after that, um that’s when you gl- can glaze it. So when you glaze it, you have to rinse it off so you can get any dust or kiln particles off of it. So that they don’t stay in the glaze. And there’s different types of glazes. I don’t really know everything about glazes ‘cause it’s like there’s a lot to know about that. It’s what- the glazes that I primarily use are they’re they’re not like paint. They’re more of a chemical reaction that happens in the kiln during the firing process, so um when you put it on and versus when it comes out of the kiln, it looks a lot different. Um, and then so yeah, you glaze it, you fire it that’s the last firing that it has. And then the glaze kind of turns to a glass kind of um, and then yeah, after that, you’re pretty much done and the glass that I use is food safe and microwave safe and all that so you can eat off of it.
I: Nice. Very interesting. What’s your favorite part of the process- that’s a lengthy process, but what’s your favorite part?
P: Mmm. (3.0) I don’t know. I actually don’t know why I do it. Just kidding! (laughs) It’s uh, probably, um,
not centering the clay on the wheel, but probably pulling it and making, making a bowl or whatever you’re making. That’s probably my favorite part. And then, trimming. I think like if I had to rank ‘em, my favorite would probably be throwing it and actually making the piece and then glazing it and then my least favorite part is trimming it. I just don’t really- it’s not that fun, but (laughs) it, it’s, it’s necessary. Okay, wait. How long is that process?
It can be if you have your at home studio, things can get leather hard a little quicker if you, like have temperature control or I don’t know things like that, but um for me it takes. It’s about a three-week, three-week process, mostly because I only- the class is only once a week, but that’s typically about it could probably be a week and a half or two weeks. If you had your own studio, because I wouldn’t have to wait for it. Every week, but it’s about a three-week process.
I: Wow. How- and then how many bowls are um, how many uh things can you make in that time, just one? Is that three weeks for one?
P: Um, no, you can make multiple because my class is three, three hours. So um like, I’ll make multiple bowls like maybe two or three. Um, some people that are really good, that have been doing it for years can just like bust them out (laughs) like five to ten bowls, like right then and there, yeah.
I: A whole set.
P: Yeah, a whole set. (laughs) Do like a dining set, um, but yeah, um probably like two or three at the most. And then like yeah, I’ll just- and I’ll have two or three once that that three-week period ends.
I: Very cool. Thank you.
P: You’re welcome. ( laughs)
I: Next question, um we kind of touched on this a little bit. It’s just- it’s a really broad question, but it’s what does your future consist of? or what what do you want your future to consist of?
P: Um, well, instantly I think of family like I want to have a family and want my hopefully business to flourish. And just have- I want to make family traditions is what I want because I didn’t- can’t really think of any that I had when I was growing up, so I’ve always wanted to make family traditions and just raise a family. And live on a large piece of land. (lauhgs)
I: How many, I mean family mea- consists of kids?
P: Mm, yeah. [Or.] Um, wait, what was the question?
I: Like family. Like that’s consistent of kids [Mhm.] and
P: Probably like three or four.
I: Oh, what about pets?
P: Yeah. So I have Honey, my dog, [25:00] (laughs) and she’ll probably be alive forever because she’s a terrible dog and those things live for like years and probably another dog. I’ve always wanted a Pitbull, so I’ll probably have one of those eventually and I want like a Bunny or something. (laughs) I don’t know. I want to have like maybe like a little sheep (laughs) on my land, I don’t know.
I: Um, on your land, do you want to like- you don’t want livestock. I mean, you mentioned sheep.
But like,
P: It’d cool to have like chickens. I think it’d be really cool to live (3.0) like have chickens and so that- like live sustainably in that way, where like I have animals that provide food for me.So I guess they wouldn’t really be pets. I wouldn’t really want to get attached to a cow.
I: Yeah.
P: Or a chicken. Because I would, I would eat it. [ Unless it’s like a- ch-] (overlapping audio inaudible)
I: For eggs.
P: Yeah. So I wouldn’t really want to get attached, but I would want to live like, sustainaby, sustainably in that in that way can’t really see myself killing the cow though, so I’d probably like- there’s places you could do that right? You just take the cow somewhere and then you come back and it’s beef, (laughs) I hope, because if not, (laughs) I can’t do that. (laughs) I can’t live with myself if I were to do that. (laughs)
I: I don’t know. [(laughs)] My family usually they usually uh kill the cow themselves or the pig or whatever.
P: Yeah, they have like the matanza or whatever. Yeah, my family knew that too, but that was before I was born.
I: Holy cow.
P: (laughs) [wait, (laughs)] Holy cow! (laughs)
I: (laughs) No pun intended.
P: Holy cow. (laughs)
I: Oh my God okay. [(lauhgs)] Um, okay, the next question is tell me about your family. I guess you have a large family. You have a large immediate family.
P: Mhm.
I: Is what it sounds like.
P: I do so uh,
I: So, tell me as much as you’d like.
P: Okay, interesting. I know, it’s like a broad question. (laughs) [It is very broad.] Um. Mmm like I said, I’m the youngest. I have four- well, my siblings are all significantly older than me, my mom had me, I think when she was like forty-two, and I’m- uh, someone’s calling you, I don’t know. (2.0) Sorry. (4.0) Did you stop recording?
I: No, we’re good. Sorry about that.
P: It’s okay. Um, what was I saying? Oh yeah, I think she’s forty-two when she had me so.
She might’ve- well, actually, no. My mom said she always knew she wasn’t done having a kid,
I: Oh.
P: Having kids. But that’s because my mom was religious,
I: Okay.
P: and so she felt, yeah, she just felt like she wasn’t done um thank God (laughs) and so yeah, all my siblings are, I want to say they’re adults but I’m also an adult now, but I don’t feel like one, but they’re all like my oldest sister, I think she’s maybe, like, forty-one or forty-two. She could be my mother. I think she was like twenty-one when I was born. Yeah. She, She could be my mother (laughs) and she’s an artist. She’s a graphic designer she works for a video company, video game company and then uh Leo, my brother he’s an electrical lineman for El Paso electric and then, Jessica, she works for Brian Galactic. And then Irene, she’s, like, manages properties and then Jenny she, right now she works for Verizon. And then Simon, he’s a caretaker. A caregiver. Yeah, yeah.
I: And what about, what about your parents?
P: Oh, uh, my mom, my mom and Dad are divorced. They got divorced when I was like I think thirteen or so. Or at least that’s when they separated. I don’t really know when the divorce went through, but um my dad, he’s always been an outdoorsman, is what he calls himself (laughs) and he like, ever since he was little, he would always hunt. So he, but he’s kind of like a Jack of all trades. He like does construction and he’s been a contractor and he’s a hunter and he went to school for welding. He’s a very good welder and he knows very little about cars, but uh he could put gas in it. (laughs)
I: Okay.
P: (laughs)
I: Me too.
P: And so, yeah, that’s my dad. He recently ret- ohh he was, he’s a veteran. He was an Air Force during the very like, tail end of the Vietnam War. And so he’s a veteran and he gets disability now. So he was able to retire. So he now gets to hunt because he always spent, he spent his life taking hunters to go hunt [30:00] to make money. But now he gets to hunt so he really enjoys that. And my mom, she was um a cashier at Albertson’s for (6.0) maybe I don’t know, maybe like fifteen years. She had to retire early because she has long QT syndrome. Uh, she, like, has health issues. Like she’s fine. She just has iss- she can’t work as much as she would want to, so she retired early. Um, and then she’s, like, picked up jobs a little bit, like, part time jobs after my parents got divorced but yeah, she, she’s like a she’s she’s like a caregiver, kind of like to our family like she’s just, that’s her main thing. So yeah,
I: Grandmas tend to.
P: Yeah,
I: To do that.
P: Yeah, they do.
I: I don’t know. Speaking of, you have nieces and nephews.
P: I d- oh yeah, oh my gosh. I can’t believe. I became an aunt when I was eight because my siblings are significantly older than me so um I have let me count, give me a second. Oh my God. Okay, give me a minute. (27.0) Fourteen. Oh my God. I have fourteen nieces and nephews that went up.
I: (lauhgs) it went up?
P: (laughs) From the last time I counted (laughs) Yeah. I have fourteen nieces and nephews. Um, only two of them are boys. The girl gene is very strong in my family. Yeah, very, very strong. Actually, I think that actually comes from the male side.
I: Mhm. It does.
P: So yeah. So that’s on them that’s on them.
I: (laughs)
P: That’s on them. (laughs)
I: And then what about, mmm. You talked a little bit earlier about how your parents didn’t teach you Spanish.
P: Mhm.
I: So then in your household, what languages were spoken?
P: Ummm, English.
I: Mhm.
P: My parents would speak Spanish when they were talking about something we didn’t know about. (laughs) [Oh, okay.] Yeah.
I: Oh interesting.
P: Yes.
I: So then they also prefer that you didn’t know Spanish. (laughs)
P: (Laughs) Yeah apparently, (laughs) yes. They’re “Uhhh, it’s for the better” [Yeah.] Um.
I: Um, this next question is what’s your favorite restaurant and can you tell me about the last time you went there?
P: Hmm. Oh, I don’t know.
I: It can be, I mean it can be more than one restaurant.
P: Okay. (Laughs)
I: ‘Cause.
P: Um, I don’t know. Probably- it actually might be Thai Delight. It’s delicious. I haven’t been there in so long. It’s ‘cause I’m broke (laughs) and, uh, annoyingly enough, my boyfriend doesn’t like Asian food so.
I should go by myself. It’d be cheaper anyways but I haven’t been there in a while. Probably, a few months.
I: A few months, wha- can you remember the last time you went? Do you remember what you ordered?
P: Yeah, I got noodles. I can’t remember, I think it was like, (sigh) I can’t remember what they’re called.
It’s literally like the chicken fried rice but like not rice, it’s noodles. (laughs) I can’t remember what it’s called though.
I: Uhh this question we’ve talked about already twice. (both laugh) Do you remember any family traditions growing up?
P: Remember?
I: Yeah.
P: (sigh) Uh, let me try, let me try. Um. (3.0) I guess. My- any tradition that I can think of is centered around the holidays, like we didn’t have any other traditions really. Probably (3.0) uh, I guess I do have a couple like holiday traditions, we would always go to my grandma’s house but that’s when. I was younger. Yeah, we’d always go to my grandma’s house for Thanksgiving and Christmas morning and Christmas Eve. My grandma, she used to be a host. She’s a little old now. She’s like eighty-even, so she doesn’t do that anymore so, we kind of just stay with our immediate families, but that was really nice because I would always see my aunts and uncles and my cousins but now we kind of stick to our respective families and so that was cool. And my mom, she doesn’t make a traditional [35:00] turkey on Thanksgiving, she got the recipe from my great grandma. It’s a turkey casserole and it’s like um, you like, it’s like a couple day process like you have to let the turkey thaw then you cook the Turkey and then you have to let it cool, because my mom shreds it. She shreds it by hand and usually it takes about two turkeys. Yeah. Well we have a big family. [Well I guess she does]
I: make a good c- a turkey.
P: Yeah. [Damn.] Yeah, she made, she makes the turkey. It’s just like, it’s not you served traditionally. [Damn. Yeah, yeah. oh okay.] So she makes about two turkeys, and she shreds them by hand. Usually, we help her because it [Yeah.] it takes a while. [Yeah.] And then you shred the turkey by hand and you- the like stuffing base is crackers. So you it’s ground crackers, saltines and Ritz. And it’s like a box of each, and we crush them and then it’s like that in the turkey and then like hot water, so it melts together or like mushes together and then it has, like olives and green beans and corn and bacon and then seasoning, obviously. (laughs) And then you like, bake it in the oven and it’s delicious and we put red chili on it and eat it with like bolillos, so.
I: Dang.
P: (laughs) Yeah. I’ve never like that’s why I’m excited to make a regular turkey this year because I’ve never made one, but I’m still gonna eat my mom’s turkey casserole ‘cause it’s best.
I: Regular turkeys are, um,
P: Mid.
I: Yeah.
P: (laughs)
I: Honestly, and they’re dry.
P: Yeah, so that’s why it’s so- uh turkey casserole is so de- delicious. [Yeah.] I, I remember like after my parents got, like, divorced or separated and my mom’s side of the family like found out they like, my uncle, I think he was just trying to help, help my mom out like, take something off her plate ‘cause my mom is the one- that was back when we would all meet for Thanksgiving with my like entire family and my mom has always only ever made the turkey where nobody else knows the recipe. And um I think my uncle was just trying to take something off ger plate, like help her out. So he like, brought regular turkeys, and my si- I remember being so angry. Like me and my siblings were all so angry because, like, that’s just another, like change that we had to deal with so we were like, “Why would you do that?” I like, didn’t even want to, I didn’t eat the turkey [(laughs)] I was like-
I: Yeah, it was like the y- yeah.
P: The one consistent thing.
I: Yeah.
P: And I understand it came from a good place ‘cause they were just trying to help her out but I’m like, really? I just wanted some freaking [You’re all, “What about me?”] turkey casserole? (laughs).
I: What about me?
P: Yeah.
I: Wait a Minute.
P: (laughs) Yeah. I’m all wait, wait, wait.
I: Yeah.
P: Yeah.
I: (laughs) Yeah. You’re all “I’m a child of divorce here.”
P: (laughs) (both laughs)
I: Um, this one is, have you received any influential advice? If so, what did it consist of?
P: Mmm, (22.0) Um. Influential device, maybe like. (5.0) I just remember one time I, I was in high school and I was in band and there, teachers would make us be in all state or make us like audition for all state, and I never really wanted to like it wasn’t in my interest. And so I was telling my dad about how he- they were making us do it, and my dad was just like, well, whatever, like is put in your way, whatever you have to do you always have to do it- you always have to attempt to do it at the best of your ability. [Mhm.] Even if you don’t want to do it and that’s like (5.0) It’s like it was nice to hear because I knew that my dad actually lived by that like it wasn’t just like do as I say, not as I do, because my dad everything that he does, even if he doesn’t want to do it, he always does it to the best of his ability because.
Typically, he’s a man of his word.
I: (laughs)
P: (laughs) But yeah.
I: Okay, that’s a good one. Um, well, just to like I guess (3.0) uh, reflect the question on to yourself what is advice that you would give yourself at a younger age. I mean, you’re not- you’re only twenty-one, so you’re not- you’re still young, in my opinion.
P: (laughs)
I: Um. Ten years ago you were eleven.
P: (laughs) Oh my God!!
I: So I don’t know what advice you would offer your eleven year old self.
P: My eleven-year-old self. I don’t even remember being eleven. (laughs) I just remember I like on my eleventh birthday specifically, this is off topic but um I was like, Oh my God, it’s my golden birthday because I was born on the eleventh,
I: Oh.
P: Yeah. I was like mom, I need everything gold. She’s all, “No.” (both laugh) [40:00] “We don’t have the money for that.” (laughs) (both laughs).
I: I don’t even know,
P: It’s your golden birthday.
I: Yeah ‘cause like, we were talking earlier about like our disconnect from our culture [Mhm.] and like I feel like I have a disconnect in Western culture and Mexican culture, [Mhm.] like there are things that happen here, like golden birthdays, [Mhm.] but I never knew [Mhm.] were even a thing. And things that happened in Mexico,
P: You don’t know is a thing. Yeah. [So that’s crazy.] Yeah, I agree because there’s some there’s like little things like within, like Hispanic, I guess there’s like small little Hispanic ties that we do have [Mhm.] in my family that like when I talk to people that are not Hispanic
I: Yeah, you’re like-
P: I’m like what? I’m like ya’ll be doing that? Okay, that’s interesting. But then like it’s always really interesting to learn about like, like real Hispanic culture that I didn’t grow up so I’m like oh I wish I did that.
I: Mhm. I know and it’s, it can get kind of frustrating.
P: It is really frustrating, especially ‘cause I’m like, I’m really pale- well, not pale, but I’m very light skinned. Probably because like I get it from my mom’s side, and my mom side has like uh roots in Spain. So like, it’s like European, you know, so it’s, it’s white. And so yeah, so I like, not only, not only am I Hispanic, but I don’t speak Spanish and I don’t look Hispanic. So like, I’ve always thought that I had to prove myself about like being Hispanic, but I. It doesn’t matter. Like (laughs) I don’t even care anymore. Like I’m done. [(laughs)] Think what you want. (laughs)
I: Um, next question is, oh! [Wait,]
P: did I even answer the question?
I: It was, what advice would you give yourself? I guess like at any age younger, even though it.
Was like a month ago.
P: I guess tied to what we were just talking about, [Mhm.] that it doesn’t matter what other people think of you because that, that was the age where I like- even when I was little, like I never felt Hispanic [Mhm.] and it was just like always like a disconnect that I felt ever since I was little. So it doesn’t matter if other people think that you’re Hispanic, it doesn’t matter. [Yeah, ‘cause] so.
I: Yeah. Um. Oh, I already asked you that. Okay, what’s the best gift you. Ever received? Can you tell me when and how you received it?
P: Oh, I don’t know. Umm, I don’t know how I received it, a gift. (4.0) Does it have to be to be like material?
I: Mm mm.
P: I think probably if we’re talking like not material things, probably my nieces and nephews. They’ve had a big impact on my life, like in the most positive way. So I would say like they’re a huge gift to my life. So, yeah. I received it by my sister’s giving birth. (laughs)
I: You don’t need to (both laugh) That’s implied. (both laugh) Let’s okay next question is, can you tell me about the first day at work at your first job? Like your emotions. [Oh my gosh.]
P: That’s so like, that’s like a core memory, so. [How-]
I: I know huh? And rea- but I think it is for everybody.
P: Yeah. So my first job is Village inn. I started out as a host. And they hired me during the week of Thanksgiving, which is crazy because that’s like a very busy week for Village inn, because they claim to have the best pies in America, even though I make better pies, but whatever (laughs) anyways (laughs),
Oh yeah, I started off as a host. I met the people that were gonna train me or whatever there was like this older lady. I can’t even remember her name. She was kind of rude, but like she was an older lady that that worked there she was a hostess and I think like she just like did it to pass the time because I’m pretty sure her husband like uh was a breadwinner like I think they were financially fine anyways um and and this other girl named, her name was Cierra spelled with the “C”. I don’t know why I always remember that but she was really nice. She was- I’ll always remember her because she was like, really- she would ask me very personal questions that it wasn’t just at me. So it wasn’t weird. Well, it was weird ‘cause I’m like, why are you asking people these things? But it wasn’t just at me. So it was that everybody. I, I didn’t feel like singled or anything, but um she was really nice. But she always asked very personal questions. But it was, it was always just to pass the time because being a host is really boring.
Um, and I just remember like learning to seat people and yeah, that’s pretty much it. I didn’t-
I like met the managers and everybody was really nice. [45:00] It was a good job. At first.
I: At first?
P: And then I learned. I had trials and tribulations.
I: What- what was the first day like though like walking in, how did you feel? [Oh, it was nerve wracking.]
P: It was very scary. (laughs) I was scared. Um, I’ve always been, really shy with people at first. So.
I was really shy and nervous, and I was scared of messing up. I don’t want to get fired on my first day. That’d be awful, but after like after the day was done and I went home, I was like, oh okay, that wasn’t that bad, but I was still nervous to go back the next day like it didn’t, didn’t really help that much, like just eventually when I learned things I wasn’t nervous anymore. But yeah it was really nerve wracking. That’s pretty much it. That’s my feelings about it.
I: (laughs) Nerve wracking.
P: Yeah.
I: Alright. Okay, this next question is, do you remember the first pet you ever had? and can you tell me about- well, first tell me if you remember um the first pet you had.
P: Yes, his- he was a white Beagle. His name is Guero. (laughs)
I: Not Snoopy.
P: No- I know! He’s a white Beagle. His name was Guero and [That’s cute.] And
He was really cute. He was a little aggressive.
I: Mhm.
P: He ended up biting my neighbor’s ear. So I think he got put down. Nobody’s ever confirmed that, but I think he got put- put down, and they just said that he ran away. Pretty sure he got put, put down, but that fukin- oh!
I: That’s okay. (laughs)
P: That’s fuckin neighbor, he was a little kid and who’s really annoying and I’m pretty sure he antagonized my dog or [Oo.] instigated my dog. You know, he started it. He shoulda- No. (both laughs) I’ll keep that to myself. (laughs) Anyways, my poor dog rest in piece that was little, that was my first pet that I remember.
I: Um, you kind of already told me about him. I was gonna- that was my follow up question. Um, that’s really sad.
P: (laughs) Yeah. (laughs) Yeah.
I: That’s always like- but then you know.
P: He’s in a better place.
I: Yeah. And it’s like you. [All dogs go to heaven. (laughs)] Yeah, you love your pet, you love your dog.
But then you have a kid and like, the love for your kid [Kid.] is going to outweigh your love for your dog. So you [Yeah.] know, if your dog does something to that kid.
P: It’s yeah,
I: (sigh) It’s the dog.
P: Yeah, it’s the dog. [I hate to say it] Yeah, I know. But [But.] like, fuck that kid room. [(sigh)] I never invited him over anyways, and he was always knocking at my door.
I: (laughs)
P: For real dude, I was like, go away. We don’t like his parents either. (laughs)
I: Some, like blad- bad blood there.
P: Yeah. Fuck him, he got my dog put down. Motherfucker. I wonder where he’s at now.
I’d like to meet him. Actually, [Umm.] I wouldn’t, sorry. (laughs)
I: That’s okay. This next question is have you? Have you ever traveled and to where?
P: I have. Um, I’ve traveled to- been to Arizona. ‘Cause it’s close and I’ve been to Pennsylvania, North Carolina (3.0) Baltimore Ma- Where is Baltimore at? Uhh, Maryland.
I: East.
P: Maryland. Yeah, it’s Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland. I was gonna say Massachusetts anyways, Baltimore, Maryland and New Jersey.
I: Wow.
P: So like the East Coast. [East Coast]
I: Yeah. I was about to say East Coast girl.
P: But I’ve never been to the West coast so I can’t really compare. So like the east? It’s not fair.
I: I’ve never been to the East Coast, [So.] I don’t know.
P: Yeah, we gotta, we gotta take each other.
I: Yeah.
(Both laugh)
I: Um, um, Tell me about the times you’ve traveled. We have a couple, we have ten minutes.
P: Oh okay. Erm so the first- well, we used to go to Arizona when I was little because my dad had, like cousins over there and my brother moved to Arizona to, like, learn how to be a mechanic, I don’t know. He went to the university, the abbreviation or whatever is UTI. (laughs) Yeah. It’s like University of Technical- University Technical Institute something like that. [Oh, okay.] It’s UTI, so that’s unfortunate, but that’s where he went to school. So that’s like the first place I remember traveling, ‘casue- but we would drive there. And then, years later, when- I think I was like thirteen or fourteen my mom and I flew to it was like the summer before my freshman year of high school. My mom and I flew to Baltimore, where my sister lives and we stayed with her there and we drove to New Jersey because all the eastern like states are very close to each other. Um, so they’re only till like two to three hours to drive to New Jersey. So we stayed to New Jersey, stayed in New Jersey, and then we went [50:00] back. And then. A couple years later uh, my boyfriend took me to meet his family in Pennsylvania and we like to go there. We try to go there every summer ‘cause his grandparents there are pretty- they’re up there in age, so we he only gets to see them once a year pretty much so we try to go there every summer and then I’ve been to oh, and then a different- actually, no we went in, like, during the fall time when we went to, we went to North Carolina to visit his mom because his mom moved to North Carolina after he turned eighteen. And yeah that’s the only time I’ve been there. To North Carolina.
I: Ohh. So, well, tra- I mean, you said you go to Pennsylvania every summer,
P: [Mhm.]
I: So that could be, I mean that for so long-
P: That’s a tradition.
I: That you and him have made.
P: That’s true. Yeah, I didn’t think. About that.
I: Um, that’s pretty much all I had for you. Is there anything else you want to talk about?
P: Um, does this have to be an hour? Oh, okay, let me think of things.
I: Talk- um you can talk about Honey. Your your little dog.
P: Oh my gosh. Yeah.
I: Um, she’s a winner dog. She claims to be winner. Dog, she doesn’t. Really look like that one that much. [She claims?] Um, well yeah, because I bought- I bought her for three hundred dollars. From a person that had two winter dogs and they’re having puppies like they had a male and a female wiener dog so I thought she was going to be a full blood wiener dog, but she doesn’t really look like full blooded wiener dog. So I think the mom got knocked up by [Oh. (laughs)] like a chi- a Chihuahua or something. I don’t know maybe a Terrier? She kinda of looks like a little bit of a like a, like a Jack Russell terrier a little bit. She’s really muscular, and she has funny ears.
I: She is muscular.
P: But she’s cute and she has a lot of energy and she’s great.
[51:51]
New Mexico Border Spanish Corpus 